Cotton-harvester.



R. CANNAN.

COTTON HARVESTER. APPLICATION min 950.9. 1913. RENEWED AUG. 3. I911.

1,259,356. Patented M81212, 1918.

5 $HEETS-SHEET li'e mar/#58858 4 3 nwsmran f2 W JZobert 620222600 Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

5 SHEET$-SHEET 4.

WITH/E8958 2%. aw

R. CANNAN.

COTTON HARVESTER.

APPLICATION HLED DECAL l9f3- RENEWED AUG. 3. l9l7.

1 ,259,356 Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

5 SHEETS-$HEET 5.

- WIN/E8858 IVEIITOR UNITED STATES PATENT oienlon,

ROBERT eAmrAn, or BROOKLYN, NIW'YORKJ COTTON- HABVESTE'R.

Application filed Decem-herfl, 1913, Serial No. 805,521. Renewed August 3, 1917.

1'0 (/16 whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT CANNAN, a

citizen of the United States, resicling in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn,

5 county of Kings, andState of New York,=

have invented certain new and useful improvements in Cotton-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification. 1 v

' This invention relates to certain improve ments in COlt-OTIJNUVCStGI'S, and more percity and improvement whereby the picking of the cottonds accomplished in a more sub stantially complete and effective manner,

with lessened liability of derangement -or I rrl gging of: the operative parts of the her-- roster, and without requiring-the exercise of any special or peculiar ski-ll or care on the part of the operator for assuring efl'eo the operation of the picking means duringthe practical use of-the harvester.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, and co1nbinations and arrangements of the-several parts of the. improved cotton harvester whereby certain important advantages are attained,

and the device is rendered SiHlP lQI,-l8$f5-8X pensive, and otherwise better adapted and more convenient and effective for use, all:

an.- will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The 'norelnfeatures of the invention 'Willbe carefully defined in the claims.

in order that my improvements may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the invention with reference toihe acconipanying drawings wherein-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of-a harvester 1n'ovided-u'ith n13 improvenientsg the honeingm. for certain of the operative parts he-' ing omitted for purposes of illuktration-g 50. Fig.- 2 a plan viewnf the harvest-eras shown in Fig.- .-1:

l ig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale and taken trans reraely tlnoiigh tlie picking means in orde'i" tor-illustrate.certain te atiinesof novelty and Specification of Letters latent;

improvement which will be hereinafter re fen-red to;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary View showingn feature of construction of one of the supports for the picking-members which will 6f) bemore fully described hereinafter;

Fig.- 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sec-= tional plan view taken through; certain parts"- of the picking means at'one sideof the inn proved harvester;

Fig 6 is anenlarged fragmentary- -sec-- tionalview taken. er-tically through;- the devices shown in Fig.5 in the plane indi cated by the line. (I a in said figure;

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail View taken in 7a the plane indicated by line b b in Fig ti showingcertain features of the cam device for controllably opera-ting the transfer mechanism;

Fig.8 is. anenlarged fragmentary sec- 7'5 tio'n'al plan 'riew taken horiZontirlly-through thepicking'. means atone side-of the --l1a1Wcs= terillustrating the operation-of thetransfer mechanism v Fig.9 is a view showing, :in end elevation, one of the picking members: together w'i tthe-related stripper member Operable to--di root the cot-ton to the transfer mechanism-,- and v Fig. 10 is an enlargedperspective view- 5 showing one of the toothed or serratedstrips employed upon the pickingmembers in the embodiment of my invention-hereinshown.

in these views I have shown my invention applied for use in connection with n cotton or harvester of the type. shown and claimed in any prior United States Letters Patent, No.

725,985, granted March 31, 1903,- lJut While my present improvements are especially" well adapted for such use, and'present i n- 9 portali it advantages when so applied, I 'do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to this special application of my in i'enti-on, since itrwill be apparent that: my improvements niay' be used: in connection .With other types or kinds of harvesters with good results; i

herein shown the harvester-is .COH- ructed in the {formof' an au'tofivehicle, the harvesting devices-being supported upon a main vehicle frame 1 having reewclririhg wheels 2', secured-upon ends of a rotatable rearaxle. 3, and provided with. front, or steering wheels 4 independently"rotatable upon the ends or-sides bf -a ay'oke pendent 11!] the shaft 114:-

...stan-tially similar to that below a fifth wheel 5 which is rotatable vupon the main frame by means of gearing from a steering head 8, so as to be adapted to turn the front wheels in a well known wa for steering the vehicle.

s herein shown, the vehicle is driven by a motor '9 of any approved type mounted uponthe main frame-1, in driving relation to a counter shaft 10 through reversible gearing in such a manner that the direction of movement of the counter shaft may be reversed at the will of the operator. As herein shown this gearing includes intermeshing gear wheels 11, operable to drive a short shaft 110 carrying a miter pinion 111 meshing at opposite sides with miter gears 112, 112 spaced from each other and freely-rotatable upon the counter shaft 10.

113 represents a clutch member slidable upon a feather-upon shaft 10 between the reverse'ly driven miter gears 112, 112 and adapted to be disengaged from said gears 112 when centrally positioned and when moved in one-direction or the other along shaft 10, to be engaged with one or the other of said gear wheels 112-, 112 according to the direction in which it is desired to drive the vehicle. 114 represents a rock-shaft 0X tended lengthwise of the main frame 1, its rear end having a forked arm operatively engaged with the clutch member 113 to slide the same along shaft 10 into engagement with one or the other of'tlle miter gears 112, 112 accordinglyas the rock-shaft is turned in one direction or the other, and the forward end of said rock shaft carries an arm or lever 115 adjacent to the steering means, so that the operator may conveniently rock from the drivers seat for con trolling the direction of travel of the vehiole, or stopping the same.

101 represents a cross shaft rotatable upon the main frame 1 above the rear aXle 3 and slightly in advance of the coun er shaft 10, from which it is driven by means of gearing 100, andlOQ represent-s chain drives at the opposite ends of this cross shaft. for commun1cating'the movement of the same to the rear axle 3 for driving the vehicle over the field or along the road.

So far as described, the structure is subset forth in my prior patent, and is herein show merely for convenience in illustrating one practical and advantageous application of my present invention 7 .As in-my prior patent, the front and rear Wheels-of the vehicle are spaced from each other atdistances sutlicient to enable them to trai el at plants duringthe use of the harvester in the field,'and the pickingmeans are located betweenthe' front and rear wheels and are duplicated at opposite sides of the main frame 1., as indicated atA, A in Figs, 1 and picking means, and to carry opposite sides of the rows of 3 of the drawings, so as to be adapted for operation simultaneously upon the opposite Sides of the plants as the same pass between the duplicate picking means during the travel of the harvester over the field. T he forward part of the machine is also provided With spaced gathering devices 621 and 64.- between which the plants are received and which operate to direct said plants into effective relation to the duplicate picking means, A, A.

As in my prior patent hereinbcfore re ferred to, the duplicate picking means A, A are constructed in the form of drums spaced from each other and bearing peripheral picking stems or members engageable with the cotton to pick the same from the plants, and these drums are reversely driven by means of suitable gearing from a trans versely extended shaft 26 which is in turn driven by means of a chain drive 21 from a sprocket wheel loosely mounted upon the cross shaft 101. This sprocket Wheel has its boss 127 provided with a ratchet like clutch surface engageable with a simila r clutch surface upon a collar 270 slidable upon said shaft 101 and normally pressed by a spring 271 into engagement with the sprocket wheel so as to be operable to transmit movement from the motor to the transverse shaft 21 for driving the picking means from the motor duringforward travel of the machine over the field, but when the travel of the machine is reversed, the clutch surfaces slip freely over'one another without driving the picking means. An appropriate lever mechanism for moving and holding the collar 270 out of engagement with the sprocket Wheel, or equivalent means may also be provided, affording a detachable driving connection which may be operated to disconnect the motor from the picking means when the latter are out of use as for example, When the harvesteris being e'lriven along theroad under its own power.

As in my hcreinbefore recited prior patent, the harvester as herein shown is also provided with duplicate elevating or conveying means, indicated as a Whole at B, 13 upon the drawings which are adapted, respectively, to receive the cotton removed from the plants by the corresponding or related the same upwardly to a suitable receptacle. These eonveying or elevating means, as herein shown, are in the nature of endless chain conveyers inclined upwardly and rearwardly and driven by 'sprocket wheels 37 at their upper parts. The sprocket Wheels 37 are upon the ends of an elevated transverse shaft- 370, driven by a chain drive 371 from a sprocket wheel 372 loosely mounted upon the counter shaft 10 and provided with a ratchet-like clutch surface upon its boss-engageable with wise held for sliding movement upon said I shaft 10 so as tohe operable similarly to the collar 270 heretoforedescribed for preventing reversed operation of the conveying means when the travel of the vehicle reversed in the field. lhe same means above referred to for discoimecting the picking de vices when not in use from the motor drive, may evidently be employed for witlnlrawino and holding the collar 373 out of engagement with the sprocket wheel 372 when the pickii'ig and conveying means are not roquired to operate.

As shown herein the forward or upper side or rim of the conveyor chain 374 is operable to carry the cotton received from the picking means upwardly and reorwnrdly and is guided and supported by an elongated guide strip or member 375. A. housing, which has been omitted in the drawings-ex eept in Figs. 2 and 5, where a part=of same is indicated at 376, will ordinarily be provided for inclosing the conveyor chain and preventing; the cotton from dropping therefrom. In the structure shown the endless chain 3H is provided at intervals with transversely extended cleats or plates 377 secured by means of screws or the likev to certain of thechain links and hearing-spaced slender pins or fingers 378, projecting outwardly therefrom and having sharp pointed extremities adapted for secure engagement in the cotton fibenatthe lower'part-of the conveycr so as to be operable to penetrate the same sufficiently to carry the cotton up wardly to the top of the :machine where at the commencement of the descent of said pins or fingers the c tton is permitted to drop freely therefrom.- I

40 The pointed extremities of the pinsor fingers378 arecurved oinhookedin such a manner to be directed upwardly waile' traveling upward along the guide strip or 1 .181'I1b1=375, the better to engage, and support the cotton, and atopposite sides of the upper partof the machine elevated 379 are provided, having internal hooks or pins 380 or equivalent; devices for detachable engagement with the open mouths of bags 381 5;) which are thereby held in opened position immediately beneath the upper delivery ends of the respective conveying means, in posidropped from the chains.

While I have found this type. of conveying means of advantage in a harvester of the classlto which I have herein shown my improvements applied, it will be. understood that the same in no way essential to the present invention, and may-he omitted or replaced by other means without departuretroin. my invention.

tion to receive. the cotton as the same l, C represent chambers or compartmeniswhich. are provided adjace to the. outer sides of the respective pick-i means A. A.

being provided with floors or bottoms 170 formed from their material and extended horizontally outward from the lower parts of the pendent yokes or frames ll-wherein the picking drums are jourualed. so as to receive any cotton which may drop from the pickingmembers, and prmenl the same from falling to the ground. 'lln: compartments or chambers t, also have impert'oratr H-nl.

walls 171 extended upwardly from their hottoms 1'70 and directed iuwardlv from the lower part of the housing; 370 for the couvrvmg means, theforward lower ends of which have (OlllllllllilCZll'lUil with the lower parts of mid chambers or compartu'ients t,

C. so as to receive the cotton therefrom.

The inner parts of the rear walls 171 of the. chambers or compartments C. (l, areherein shown provided with extensions 172, curved conformably to the peripheral- SL'll'-' faces of the piCklng drums so as to afford shields extended over the rear sides of the drums to prevent the. cotton from dropping from the picking members. and to assure. de livery thereof into the chambers or conipartinents C.

opposite ends of the cross shaft 2-1 for imparting morement to the driuns. and where this and s milar construct-ions are'cmployed I have found it of material advantage to so proportion the gearing .that the rearward travel of the picking; stems or members S.

hall substantially equal the forward travel of the harvester over the field in ordert'o avoid breakageof the plants or loss of power due to the necessitw of draggino the picking stems through the plants.

in my prior patent I have also shown the picking drums provided with upper and lower heads or members 33 and 32. and I l'ni've found it of advantage. where this construction is adopted, to produce the drum wall in the form of a series of para-llel'indear1ul entl v removable stave-like sections or meinl'iers3't, 34 each of which supports-set oral of the picking stems or members 8,- S, and I have also found it advantageous for facilitating the removal of the staves and other parts and for bracing and strengthening the structure, to provide rigid, connectiuns 3 30, 330 bBlLWt-iit the upper and lower heads or members -33 uand which may remain permanently. 'iifpositioi'i during .re-

pair or adjustment of and avoid the liability of derangement or loosening of the parts which might otherwise occur. I have found it desirable to provide say four of said rigid connections n theform of rods or braces extended end- Wise Within the drums, pinned or bolted at their upper and lower ends within equidistant sockets produced in the upper and lower heads 33 and 32 and to tie these rigid connections 3330 together at the central parts of the drums by means of annular brace members as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

As in my prior patent hercinabove rcferred to I have shown the drums provided with vertical shafts Eel extended axially through them and provided at their upper ends-with driving means which in the structure herein showncomprises bevel gears 2-5 whereby movement is communicated from a transverse shaft 26 journa-led upon the main frame above the shaf, 21 and driven therefrom by toothed gearing 27. 30 represents bevel gearing within the respective drums of the picking means at A, A, whereby movement is communicated from the axial shafts 24 to drive the journals 40 of the the operative parts,

picking'stcms or members S, S, said journals being supported in bearings upon the -several stave-like sections or members 34 of the drum'wall so that they ma} be readily removed from the drum while held in relation by the members or sections of the drum wall to permit repairs to be conveniently eflected. V a

The upper and lower heads or members of the'picking drums are also provided with outwardlydirected guide ways 35, 35 in which are held'radially movable slide members 36, 36 at the upper and lower ends of outer stave-like actuating members 37. which are directed vertically outside the drum wall formed by the stave-like sections or members 34-; which support the spindles or journals "l0 of/the picking stems or members S, and 4-2, '42 represent stripper members of rounded or disk-1ike form which are collared and supported for free rotatory movpment in said actuating members 37 in posi members S and other parts of the mechanism, as will be hereinafter explained. 38, 38 represent fixed cams at the upper and lower parts of the drums having cam grooves wherein are engaged rollers 3901 the like upon the slide members 36, 36 of the several actuating members or staves 37,

whereby it will be seen. that radial move ment is imparted to said members during the rotatlon of the drums to cause the stripion for cooperation with the stems or As in my before mentioned rior patent, the picking stems or members S have sleevelike body portions 41, which are supported loosely mounted upon the journals or spindles 40 so that the latter may turn freely within said body portions without rotating the latter, and 51 represent spring pressed clutch. members held upon the spindles or journals 40 adjacent to and adapted, when the actiuiting members 37 are forced or drawn inwardly adjacent to the walls of the drums. to engage clutch surfaces at the inner parts of the stripper members 42 in such a manner as to lock said members 42 securely to the spindles 10 in order that the parts may rotate together. Since the clutch members 51 are or may be similar in structure and operation to corresponding clutch ing members 37.

45, 4-5 represent a plurality of lZOOtl'lPd'OI' serrated strips which are directed endwise along the body portion of each of the respective picking stems or members S, being herein shown formed separately from said body portions and held in dovetail or undercut guideivays therein. Each body portion 41 is also herein shown provided with a removable cap at its outcrend which serves to hold the several toothed or serrated strips 45 in position in the guide ways. The strips 45 as herein shown project slightly beyond the peripheral surfaces of the body portions 41 whereon they are mounted and afford feathers or guides directed lengthwise along the stems or members S, slidingly engaged in slots or kerfs 43 in the corresponding stripper members and operable to compel rotation of the sleeve-like body portions 41 in unison with the stripper members 42 when the latter are forced inwardly into engagement with the clutch members 51 by the action of the cams38, while permitting free movement of said stripper members endwise along the stems or members S in unison with the radial movement of bers.

As in my prior patent, the cams 38 are so proportioned and arranged that the actuating members 37 are drawn inwardly toward the wall of the drum so as to cause the toothed or serrated picking stems or members S to project outside of said members 37 when the stems or members S are at the inner parts of the drums in position to enctrate the plants and pick the cotton, an in this-position of the members 37 thestripper inem bers 42 are engaged with the clutch mem bers 51 so as to be driven therefrom in or the actuating memder that rapid rotation may be imparted to the stemsor-memhers S ffifidlflWlllg the fiber from. the balls and whaling it around the stems, and the structure and arrangement of thehurVedextensions 172, 172 of the rear walls of the chambers or compartments 0, G a re such that the extremities of thepickingstcms or members S, after i-l lfilll' withdrawal from. the plants, come into position opposite to said extensionsbefore the action of the canls 38 in forcing the actuating memhers B7- .and -stri'ppcr minnbers 4'2 outward irlong the stems or members S shall have progrossed-to such anextcnt as might render the [picked cotton liable to full or drop flOilllllB -"Fatems to; the;gro1rnd,- whereby it will be seen -1hnt=dnringthe introduction of the cotton Withintlie';chambers' or compartments C C, fhe) extensionsopcrate to retain the fiher in iplapenpo hgfpiflklflgStQ-HLS,Hihlgphtlln any I "nay'in-terfenngyivith the action of thestr'ip- 3 In this liiiay' icwill be seen that the strucfiienibersin'forc'ing thefiber outward to war jste nsl or} members S.-

and upongthe ontermost ends of the ture' 'is such that the extensions 172 as indicated -i.nF1g-. 2 ekte-nd a-ronnd the rear parts of. the-drums to such a distance that;

,30 "he'foredhe strippermembers have operated the cXtrei'nities of the pickingstems or members S are-engaged'wi-th n said-extens ons,

to any such extent" as ould render the -cot t onli'a'ble to drop froin thestems and during;

-iheaction of thefstrippermen bers said eX- ftensio'ns be'inclosely-ad acent-to the points "of the-stems affordxst'ops 101 guides which prevent the cotton from' dropping off the stems and assure-its deliveryv within the-compartments or" chambers C with-out likelihood. 40I

- said chambers or -compartinents' such as of the fiher catchingnpon therear walls of .wmild be liable to occurwercthe-extensions I 1-7 2,01v someeqnivalent 5 means not provided fcndire'ctirig -jthe cotton pastsaid rear walls.- 4'5;

- 1The= arrangelnent-ofwthe drums and ettendong 1721is also 'suchias to afford a. passage aroundthe rear partof each-drum a-fiording an inletg-fior cotton-into the correspond in g chamber-or compartment C as'c'learly in- I fdicatedat- 180 on'the drawings and 181 represents" HrrbOttGfll extended around each of these passages and extended inwardly from -Hie correspond ng curved extension 172 m .hel'E-li keformation so as to he adapted to receive; any fihcr which may drop from the stems or members S in order to-prevent the vand p p in'g etexns Or me hers Sat, the respective #fr'om vfallin to the gronnd. .These orkshelf hie portions 181 at therewe passages '1,180 are positioned below losely adjacent, to: "the lowermost pick:

clearly indicatcdin Fig. '1 sewn-n "e'opeigation of the machine said lower- -tenifsor members S will operate to the f ber resting-upon said bottoms or ing means-and according to my present inventi'on i provide in connection; with each set of picking moans comprised in theharvester a transfer mechanism 'in4;.iicatod .at D upon the drawings operzizhlegi'o-assure the re moval ofthe fiber from the picking mcansso as to prevent the same from heing lost or cloggihg'the mechanism by adhering thereto.

As herein shown each-transfer incclm-nism comprises a vertically extended dr-inn or cylinder 182 positioned in the corresponding chamber or compartment C closely adjacent to the path traversed by the extremities of the stems or members S during the rotation of the corresponding picking-.drnm-said cylinders having lower ends-l83-pro-vided with step hearings as indicated at 184M.- the-hob toms of the-chambersfor compartments. C

and being provided. at their upperends with heads 185 having axially extended ewes or stems 186 directed upward throu '11 .lgearings 187 extended across the topsoft 1e hhambers or compartmentsand provided-at their upper ends" with-beveled gear wheels- 188 meshing With corresponding beveled gear Wheels 189- upon' the-- extren1itiesoifthe shaft 26 from Which-thepicking drumss'are driven aslhercinbefore describedwhereby it will be seen that the drnms-or cylinders 182-a1e continuously driven-during the 'operation of'theharvest-en- ,Each drum or cylinder 182- is tubular and within it are arranged-a plnreli'ty' ofweqni distant rock shafts 190,- 190- herein sh-own as five in number,-eXtended-vparallel: With the aifis of the dr'iim or--cylinder-and'supported in bearings at -the upper and lower-ends or heads thereof as clerrly indicated in Fig 6 of the drawings, the upper extremitie's of sai d rock-shafts -being'--directed= abov'e the upper head In: end' 185 of the-'drnmorcyl inderas shown at 191 in the drawings and 'being provided with-prank arms 192 having antifriction rollers 193 *adaptd totraverlse and roll nroiind the peri'pheral camsu-rfiace 1940f acam-block or memberl9o heldrat I the underside of thecorrespondingbearing 187 by means of screws or the like'as shown nt'196 in Figs. 6 and 7.

197, -197 represent series of fingers. ex: tended from the respective rock-shaftswith-,

in each drum-or cylinderl82 'hawingfishank portions which are directed. ontwnrdlyfrmn the shafts parallel with'eachotherland pr0-;

' vided 'with hook-like end portions 198 which constructed and-arranged that as each set or series of stems or members S come into line with the corresponding transfer mechanism'D and are most closely adjacent to the peripheral surface of" the drum or cylinder 182 thereof the pointed hook-like extremities of one of the vertically extended sets or series of pins or fingers 19?" at said drum or cylinder come into position to engage the cotton fiber stripped from said s ems or members S by the corresponding strips and operate 'by engagement with the cotton to transfer the'same positively-from the picking drum to the drum or cylinder of the correspondingtransfer mechanism.

The gearing by means of which the picking drums and cylinders 182 of the transfer mechanisms are driven are so arranged that the drums or cyhnders of the transfer mechtive transfer of the anisms are. caused to turn oppositely to the rotation of the corresponding picking drums andthe cam devices at thevuppcr ends of the drums or cylinders of the transfen niecha nisms are constructed in such a Way as to operate through the crank arms of the rockshafts 190 to protrude the hooked extremi ties of the pins 197 beyond the peripheries of the cylinders 182 prior to then-engagement with the cotton and as herein shown the pinsor fingers 197 are also so positioned along the shafts that the hooked extremity of one of the pins or fingers is alinediwith the extremity of eachstcln or member S during the transfer operation so as to approach the same as closely as ossiblo to i her in casc'tat c same should adhere to the picking drum."

200, 200 represent springs coiled upon the upper extended ends of the rock-shafts 190 above the drum or cylinder of each transfer mechanism and operable by their tension to hold the rock-shafts normally turned in a direction which Will retract the hooked ex tremities of .the pins or fingers 197 to the greatest extent permitted by the corresponding cam device whereby it will be seen that said pins .orfingcrs are caused by said cam device toprotrude from the drum or cylinder in position to engage the fiber during the travel of the pins adjacent to the corresponding picking drum.

The front Wall of each chamber or com- 'partment O, as herein shown, has its inner edge' portion closely adjacent to the peripheral surface of the corresponding drum or cylinder 182, so as to rcvent the fiber from being drawn forward y out of the chamber or compartment .by the rotatiom-i'of. said drum or cylinder and the cam device at the upper end of the cylinder has its peripheral cam surface 194 so formed, as indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, as to permit the springs 200 to operate upon the several rock shafts 190 in such a wa as to retractthe hooked extremities of t e pins or. fingers 197 within the body ofthe drum or cylinder 182 as they approach said front wall of the chamber or compartment C,-as clearly represented in Figs. 5 and 7, so that the pointed extremities of said pins or fingers are withdrawn from their engagement with the fiber, and are completely housed within the drum or cylinder, whereby the cotton is permitted to dro within the chamber or compartment, an the pins are prevented frominterfering with the rotation of the drum or cylinder by engagement with said front wall, or from'dragging the fiber out of the chamber or compartment.

By this construction and arrangement of the parts, the cotton taken'from the plants by the picking means is conveyed to the corresponding chariibers .or compartments C, or equivalent receiving means substantially without liability of being dropped to the bers are employed, as in the structure herein set forth, I have also found it to be of advantage to provide such stems or members, whatever be their special construction, with comparatively slender pointed pins 201, 201, as indicated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 of the drawings', cngageable in the fiber and having 'their outer pointed extremities curved or in-.

clined outwardly in the direction: of length of said stems or members, and also in the direction of rotation thereof, whereby it will be seen that said pointed extremities of the pins are the better adapted to pale trate the fiber and secure an effective hold thereon such as is desirable for assuring rsnbstantially complete withdrawal of the fiber from the bolls, while at the same time; such outward inclination or curvature of ated for the withdrawal of the fiber from the picking devices.

l have also shown the strips or bars 45, whereofthe pins 201 are carried, provided with rounded outwardly directed guard fingers or projections 203, intervening between said pins and affording between them recesses or spaces wherein the pins are positioned, said guard fingers or projections being operable to protect the pins against being bent or broken by engagement with the stems or the plants, etc, and from collecting leaves or other foreign substances such as would require to be separated from the collected cotton, As shown in Figs, 8, 9 and 10, said guard fingers or projections are of such extent and thickness as to shield the pins 201 as much as'powible from the modification without heavier portions of the plants, without interfcring with the desired engagement of the pins with the fiber, and the inner parts of said projections or fingers 203 have inclined outer surfaces 204:, over which the fiber is adapted to slip very readily during the operation of the strippers.

From the above description of my improvements, it will be apparent that the cot-- ton harvester constructed in accordance eral parts herein set forth in *fcar'rying out my invention in practice.

" Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters eat is.-

1. A cot-ton harvester having picking members engageablb with the plants to pick the cotton therefrom, means operable first, to'move'said members into position for engagement with theplants and afterward, to Withdraw said members outof-piisititm for such engagement, mechanism adjacent to the path of said picking members when Withdrawn from position for engagement with the plants, including a support having members operable, when projected, to cm gage and separate the cotton from thepicking members, and adapted to be retracted to release the separated cotton-and means for actuating said separating members ope erable first, to project the same in position to engage and separate the collected cotton from the picking members and-afterward, to retract said separating members to re lease the separated cotton.

2. A cotton harvester having pick-in members engageable with the plants to ie the cotton therefrom, means operable 1m, to more said members into position'for en gagement with the plants and afterward;- to withdraw said members out of 'position for such engagement, mechanism adjacent to the path of said members when withdrawn from position for cngageinenhwith the plants including a support having mem hers provided with pointed extremities-extended oppositely to the direction of more merit of the picking members operable when projected, to engage and separate the cotton from the picking members and adapted to be retracted to release the separatedcotton, and means for actuating said scparating' members operable first toproject thesame in position to engage and separate the collected cotton from the picking members and afterward to retract said separating mem hers to release the separated cottons.

3, A cotton harvester having I picking members engageable Withthe pla nts'to iek the cotton therefrom, means operable" rst, to move said members into position for on gagement' with. the plants and-afterward, to withdraw. said members out'of position for such engageinendn receptacle adapted to receive the cotton picked 'by said members, mechanismwdjacent to the path of said members when withdrawn from position for engagementwithlthe plants including a support having members operable when projected, to engage'and separate the cotton from the picking members, and adapted to be retracted to deliver the separated cotton to said receptacle, and means for actuating tlie separating members operable rst, to project the same in position to en gage and separate the collected cotton from the picking members and afterward, to retract said separating members to deliver the separated cotton to said receptacle.

4:. A cotton haryester having rotatable picking members engageable with plants and provided with pins to engage and pickthe cotton, means operable first, to move saidmembers into position for engagement with the plants and afterward, to Withdraw said members out of position for such engage ment, means for terminating the rotatory movement of said members when withdrawn from position for engagement with the cotton, mechanism adjacent "to the patlrof said picked Wn from position for enga ement with the plants including a'su-pport airing members provided with pointed extremities extended oppositely to the rlirection of movement. of the picking members operable when projected, ,to engage and separate-the cotton from the picking membersand adapted when retracted, to release the separated cotton and means for actuating sa'iclsepa rating members, operablefirst to project the, same, in position to engage and separate the collected cotton from the piciiingmembers and afterward, to retract said separating members to leliventhe separatedcotton to said receptacle.

5. A cotton harvester having a picking member sl p orted at one end and having its opposite en ,projecting fo'r engagement with the plants 'tQIliQl; the cotton therefrom, and niorable to Withdraw it out of position for members, when withdra Such ee' msnha r esptaele teieeeiye, the

cbft fbii', means operable to strip the noutniardly toward --theprothe picking. member :dur-in g l of said member out of positic-n for engagement with the plants, anda wall extended from said receptacle along the path tra rersed by the picking member when withdrawn from position for engagement Withtlieplan't-s, and positipnedoutside' of the projecting end of said picking member and adapted to prevent loss of. the cotton from the pi ling member during operation 1 the of'ithe stripping means prior to the arrival Isis oration of the of'sarid pickinigmemher at the receptacle.

6; A cotton harvester having a picking member Sn opposite end pifogle'e't ng for engagement 1th the 'plants to the. cotton therefrom, and movable to withd'law it from-p0 sition for engage vthe, plants, means" aaapted receive the co m the picking n1 from Iii I l s ne" a ti he-,1 when 'withclraavn ,from position engagementwith the plants, and ,ositio of the projeetin Lend" b'erpand adapt torffroln the p arrival of Said 1 tlfe cottbntlierefpom, from pos tion 2 members and ported atone end and havingits cent to thev p when ,Vwithd be successively first, to project the sam v gage andseparate the-collected cotton T thereof to be engagedaivi-th" the. plhnts t- ;the-eotton; therefrom f and aiterw a S 1 gag n enc ants, itm aen-.:- with, the plants including asnpp'ort has i K mechanism adjacent to the v path of said members, when withdrawn from position for engagement with the plants including a member adapted to engage and separate the collectecl'cott'on from said picking members, means 0 ")erable'to strip the collected cotton outwardly toward the projecting end of said picking member during the withdrawal, of said member out of position for enga ement with the plants, and a wall extende from said separating mechanism along the path traversed by the pickin member when Withdrawn from aosltion or engagement with the plants an positioned outside of the projecting end of the picking member, and adapted to prevent loss of the cotton from the picking member during the operation of the stripping means prior to the arrival of said picking member at the separating mechanism.

8. A cotton har ester having'a rota-tably mounted support, picking members carried by the support'a-dapte'd during the rotation thereof to be engaged With the plants to pick the cotton therefrom and afterward to be withdrawn from position for enga ement with the plant's, cent to the path of the plckin' members when withdrawn from position 'or engagement Withthe' lants including a support having. pins in timed adapted to be presented'sne-' cessivcly to the respective picking members to separate the cot tpn therefrom.

9, A cotton hart' ester having a rotatably mounted support, picking members carried by the support adapted' during the rot'z'rtion thereof to'be engaged with the plants to pick the cotton therefrom and arena-area) be withdrawn from position for en m'entwith the plant gage and s h s fliese ep'ara members op e' in; position" i from ' 'the pickingmembers and afterward, to re tract said separating members to release the separated cotton. t

110. A cotton harvester having a rotatahlg mounted support picking members-ea by the support adapted-during the re withdrawn frompositioin f-o witirth'e plants, and me g 3 to the path' of the picking members wi thdrawn from" positionfor enga gt and mechanism ad] arelation to the picking timedly actuated members adapted to be successively projected in position to engage and separate the cotton from the picking members and capable of etraction to release the separated cotton, means operable to :move the' collected cotton outwardly along the icking members toward the projecting en 5 thereof when said members are withdrawn from position for engagement with the plants and means for actuating the separating members operable first, to project the same in position to .engage and separate the collected cotton from the picking members and afterward, to retract said separating members to release the separated cotton.

11. A cotton harvester having picking members engageable with the plants to pick the cotton therefrom, means operable first, to move said members into position for en gagement with the plants and afterward, to withdraw said members out of position for such engagement, conveying means adapted to receive the cotton when picked and mechanism adjacent to the path of the picking members when withdrawn from position for engagement with the plants including a support having members operable when projected to engage and separate the cotton from the picking members and adapted to be retracted to release the separated cotton and means for actuating the separating members operable first, to project the same in position to engage and separate the collected cotton from the picking members and afterward, to retract said separating members to deliver the separated cotton tothe conveying means;

12. A cotton harvester having a picking member sup ported at one end and having its opposite end projecting for engagement with the plants to pick the cotton therefrom, and movable towithdraw it from position for engagement with the plants, transfer mechanism adjacent to the path of said members when withdrawn't'rom position for engagementwvith the plants including a member adapted to engage and separate the collected cotton from said picking. members, a wall extended from said separating mechanism along the path traversed by the picking member when withdrawn from position for mgagemcnt with the plants and positioned outside of the projecting end of the picking member and adapted to prevent the cotton from being forced outwardly off the extremity of the picking member during the operation of the stripping means prior to the ar rival. of said picking member at the separating mechanism, and a shelf-like part in- 'wardly directed from the lower part of said shield beneath the picking members along which the cotton dropping from said. mem bers adapted to travel to the transfer mechanism.

13. A cotton harvester having a rotatabl mounted support. picking members carried by the support adapted during the rotation thereof to be engaged with the plants to pick the cotton therefrom and afterward. to be withdrawn from position for engagement v. ith the plants, mechanism adjacent to the path of the picking members when Withdrawn from position for engagement with the plants including a. hollow rotatable drunrlike support having. an apertnred wall, shafts extended longitudinally within the drum-1ike support and provided with ins in timed relation to the picking mem ers and having curved pointed extremities extended in the direction of rotation of said drum-like support and adapted to be presented successively to the respective picking members to separate the cotton therefrom, and means for moi'ingsaid shafts operable to protrude the pins from the wall of said drum-like support when in position to sep arate the cottontherefrom and afterward to retract said pins within the drum-like support to displace the separated cotton therefrom.

14. A cotton harvester having a rotatable drum-like support including members spaced at intervals along its axis of rotation, parts extended between said spaced members but outside the axis of rotation and affording permanent connection between said members, a plurality of bearing members detachably mounted upon said spaced members, and atl'ording an outer drum wall, a shaft extended axially within said drum-like support andv around which the latter turns, means for driving said drum-like support, picking members rotatably mounted upon the bearing members, and means within the drum-like support for driving said pickin members from said axially arranged sha t during the rotation of the support around the shaft.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

J D. CAPLI NGER, Taro. H. FRIEND. 

